Wow they got Sexton for a song: https://hoopshype.com/rumor/jazz-trading-collin-sexton-to-hornets-for-jusuf-nurkic/
There's only a handful of teams that are going to use the entire NT-MLE ... because of that and the lack of cap space across the league (3 teams?), there's going to be some real value signings in FA.
Theoretically, the Rockets COULD acquire NAW with the NT-MLE and also trade Landale and other salary for DFS. However, it would be tough to fit both NAW & DFS into team salary without busting the first apron hard cap. Basically, they've got $20.7M to work with to add both. Hence, I don't see that happening. Mostly likely, it'd be one or the other.
https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-int...myles-turner-nickeil-alexander-walker-trades/ The Houston Rockets will have the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception available to go after a player of Alexander-Walker’s caliber. However, such a scenario would depend on their appetite to go above the luxury tax. Houston will pursue Los Angeles Lakers free-agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources told HoopsHype. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sp...ts-finney-smith-alexander-walker-20339033.php Here are some free agents who could make sense for the Rockets: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G/F Age when season starts: 27 Why he fits: In Minnesota, Alexander-Walker has built a reputation as one of the best young defensive role players. His ball pressure and ability to navigate screens would work well in the Rockets’ switch-everything defense. On offense, Alexander-Walker doesn’t require the ball to be in his hands a ton but can knock down corner 3s. He’s also one of only five players in the league to play in all 82 regular-season games in each of the last two seasons. Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF Age when season starts: 32 Why he fits: Finney-Smith is a versatile defender and high-volume 3-point shooter who took 74.6% of his shots behind the arc last season. A full-time starter in Brooklyn before he was traded 20 games into the season, the veteran wing embraced a part-time starting role with the Lakers and found success as a small-ball power forward, something that could be of interest to a Rockets team that likes to play a smaller second unit with Jabari Smith Jr. or Jeff Green at center. There will be plenty of competition to sign Finney-Smith after he declined his $15.4 million player option with the Lakers for the upcoming season. Ty Jerome, SG/PG Age when season starts: 28 Why he fits: Jerome, a Sixth Man of the Year finalist, was one of the most effective mid-range shooters among NBA combo guards last season and his catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage (.454) ranked ninth out of all NBA players who attempted at least 100. He was +88 during Cleveland’s first-round playoff sweep of Miami, the best plus-minus a bench player has posted in a series since tracking for that stat began in 1997. Jerome is due for a big pay increase following a breakout season. Luke Kennard, SG Age when season starts: 29 Why he fits: Kennard is a career 43.8% 3-point shooter whose gravitational pull on the perimeter could really help the Rockets, who consistently struggled with spacing last season. Kennard is also an underrated playmaker, but his best value remains as an automatic spot-up option even though his 3-point attempts per game and accuracy declined last season. The sharpshooter could be one of the cheaper 3-point specialist options on the free agent market this summer. Gary Trent Jr., SG Age when season starts: 26 Why he fits: Trent Jr.’s 3-point percentage was in the 85th percentile of all wing players during the regular season. In the playoffs, he increased his 3-point percentage to 50% while averaging 4.4 makes per game, more than any other player in the 2024-25 postseason. While most of Trent’s defensive metrics don’t jump off the charts, he can be disruptive when going for steals in the same mold as Rockets forward Tari Eason, albeit without as much length.
